YouTube has launched its “Hype” feature globally, aiming to boost the visibility of smaller creators. The feature, initially unveiled at Google’s Made on YouTube event in 2024, is now accessible on videos from creators with under 500,000 subscribers.
The “Hype” button, positioned beneath the “like” button, is available in 39 countries, including the U.S., U.K., Japan, Korea, Indonesia, and India. Viewers can “hype” up to three videos per week for a specific creator, awarding points and increasing their potential to rank on a new leaderboard within the Explore menu.
YouTube emphasizes fairness by providing a larger boost to smaller creators when their videos are hyped, with creators having fewer subscribers receiving a greater bonus from fan hypes. Videos boosted in this way will display a “hyped” badge, and users can filter their Home feed to exclusively view “hyped” videos.
Users who hype videos will receive notifications when a video they’ve boosted is near the leaderboard. Dedicated fans can also earn a “hype star” badge each month to demonstrate their support. According to YouTube, the introduction of Hype stems from the desire of passionate fans to actively contribute to a creator’s success.
YouTube anticipates a new revenue stream from the feature, with plans to allow fans to purchase additional “hypes” in the future to further boost their favorite videos. The company is also developing hype leaderboards tailored to specific interests, such as gaming and style, and plans to enable fans to share their “hype” actions.
Creators can monitor their “hypes” and hype points within the YouTube Studio mobile app, accessing a new “Hype” card in their video analytics and weekly data stories. These analytics will provide creators with insights into how the “Hype” feature is impacting their video performance and audience engagement.
